NCDC taking regional, Web-based approach

While downtown revitalization remains a top priority for Norwich economic development officials, they’re also not losing sight of regional opportunities and Internet marketing tools to ensure all sectors of the city have a platform for success.

While downtown revitalization remains a top priority for Norwich economic development officials, they’re also not losing sight of regional opportunities and Internet marketing tools to ensure all sectors of the city have a platform for success.

That was the message delivered Thursday morning by Norwich Community Development Corp. executives to board members.

“We have to be at the top of mind everywhere in the region,” NCDC President Robert Mills said.

Mills serves on the streering committee for a regional cultural alliance that stretches from Colchester to Groton, and said Norwich must be at the forefront of planning initiative if the city hopes to capture tourism revenue.

“A lot of us are working hard at improving our brand, but the perception from outside the area is that Norwich does not play well with others,” Mills said. “By being on this committee, I see a lot of opportunity, and I think this community and this area of the region have some of the most remarkable stories to be told.”

Meanwhile, NCDC Vice President Jason Vincent said, the agency is working with existing business owners to help them gain a larger online presence through the use of crowd-sourcing applications like Yelp, a directory service that’s based on user reviews.

In January, Yelp had 100 million unique visitors across its platforms, and more than 100 Norwich businesses have garnered at least a single review. While not all of them are positive, Vincent said local business owners need to be aware of what customers are saying about them.

“If they just rely on the 40,000 people that live within our borders, that’s a very small market,” Vincent said. “If a person uses Yelp to make a $50 sale, he’s able to pay his utility bill, he’s able to pay his taxes and he’s able to stay in business. That’s real grassroots retention stuff.”

Norwich City Council President Pro Tempore Peter Desaulniers embraced NCDC’s work but said officials need to tie results back to positive downtown growth, because that’s where many residents first look to see progress.

“To me, the emphasis has to be made so people understand how this going to have an effect on the downtown,” he said. “We have to find a way to get the message to the public that this is going to help downtown.”